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TO THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MAINE

The undersigned inhabitants of the Town of Winthrop respectfully represent that the District of Columbia, the territory ceded by the State of Maryland and Virginia to the United States, for the seat of its General Government, is the mart of a Slave-trade as atrocious as any which has ever disgraced human society. Notwithstanding Congress has the right, by Federal Con- stitution, to abolish Slavery and the slave-trade within said District; notwithstanding the people of the non-slave holding states have a common interest in the jurisdiction of said District, yet Slave Factories are established at the very seat of Government; where slaves are constantly collecting from the neigh- boring States, and therefore regularly shipped in cargoes, or sent in droves to the remote South. Thus the District of Columbia is made one of the greatest slave markets in the world.

The public prisons of the U.S., maintained by the people of Maine as truly as by those of any other State, are made use of by the Slave Dealer, to store the victims of the American slave-trade.

The guilt of tolerating these enormities rests upon the whole American people, and on every individu- al, who will not exert himself to remove them.

Although Congress has the power of legislation on this subject, yet it is impossible that it will ever exercise this power until the people, of the several States require it.

Your Petitioners do not consider it necessary to offer any considerations to show that slavery and the slave-trade are inhuman and unjust -- hostile to the natural and inalienable rights of man -- and incon- sistent with permanent prosperity, and national honor; -- wince your Honors are doubtless already fully aware, how the traffic in our fellow-men, is estimated by the Christian and civilized world.

Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honorable body would instruct the senators and request the Representatives, in Congress from the State of Maine, to use all proper means to effect the entire abo- lition of Slavery in the District of Columbia; and as in duty bound will ever pray.

[2 columns of signatures]

Stephen Sewall [Name illegible] [Name illegible] Lemuel Webb Sam'l Benjamin Daniel Carr B. P. Hight [illegible] Upton Geo. W Thomas Moses B. Sears C. S. Norris David Warren Ebenezer Carlton Samuel Clark 2d David Thurston E. C. Milliken Benj. Allen Sam G [?] Seth May Thomas Hood John May Geo. S. Whiting Benj H. Long Daniel Gale James Dealy Albert Sturtevant Ransom Bishop Peleg F Pike Constant D Besse Caleb S. Gilbert C. B. Morton Wm Noyes Otis Whittman Wm S Land Joseph Metcalf Nathan. Perkins Moses H Metcalf Jonathan Stevens Martin Cushing J. N Metcalf Joseph A Metcalf

                                                               Austin [?]

C Thomas Sam'l E Benjamin Anson Stanley Jon. L Stanley Thomas Snell E. Holmes